Dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers

Compare the named medicines in this source-linked class directory.

Membership describes a named action or a component of a combination. A medicine may appear in several families. Medicines in one family are not automatically interchangeable; this is a study directory, not a prescribing guide.

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Amlodipine

Olmesartan / Amlodipine / Hydrochlorothiazide

Combination: membership refers to the relevant component.

Amlodipine / Benazepril

Combination: membership refers to the relevant component.

Generic names and pronunciation

Amlodipine · am-LOE-di-peen

Olmesartan · ol-me-SAR-tan

Hydrochlorothiazide · hye-droe-klor-oh-THYE-a-zide

Benazepril · ben-AY-ze-pril

Pronunciation is shown for the US English generic name.

Body system and related classes

Body system: Cardiovascular

ACE inhibitors

Angiotensin II receptor blockers

Beta-adrenergic blockers

Non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors

Loop diuretics

Thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics

Alpha-1 adrenergic blockers

P2Y12 platelet inhibitors

How each medicine works

Amlodipine — Dihydropyridine calcium antagonist that inhibits transmembrane influx of calcium ions into vascular smooth muscle and cardiac muscle.

Olmesartan / Amlodipine / Hydrochlorothiazide — Olmesartan blocks angiotensin II effects, amlodipine blocks calcium entry into vascular smooth muscle, and HCTZ promotes sodium and chloride excretion.

Amlodipine / Benazepril — Benazepril inhibits ACE, lowering angiotensin II and aldosterone; amlodipine is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker.

Each summary is the mechanism line from the medicine’s study card.

What each medicine is used for

Amlodipine — Hypertension; Symptomatic treatment of chronic stable angina; Confirmed or suspected vasospastic angina; Reduction of angina hospitalization or coronary revascularization risk in patients with recently angiographically documented coronary artery disease, without heart failure or an ejection fraction below 40%

Olmesartan / Amlodipine / Hydrochlorothiazide — Hypertension requiring the selected olmesartan/amlodipine/hydrochlorothiazide combination; not indicated for initial therapy

Amlodipine / Benazepril — Hypertension not controlled on monotherapy

Each list is the uses line from the medicine’s study card.

Telling these medicines apart

Medicines in this class: 3 · single-ingredient: 1 · combination products: 2

Also in other drug classes: Olmesartan / Amlodipine / Hydrochlorothiazide (Angiotensin II receptor blockers, Thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics) · Amlodipine / Benazepril (ACE inhibitors)

Listed on more than one card in this class

Listed on only one card in this class

Amlodipine: Common side effects — Flushing; Palpitations · Warnings — Symptomatic hypotension; Worsening angina or acute MI; Severe hepatic impairment · Interactions — CYP3A inhibitors; Simvastatin; Cyclosporine, tacrolimus

Olmesartan / Amlodipine / Hydrochlorothiazide: Common side effects — Peripheral edema; Headache; Fatigue; Muscle spasms · Warnings — Hypotension in volume-depleted patients; Fluid and electrolyte imbalance; Sprue-like enteropathy · Interactions — Aliskiren (in diabetes)

Amlodipine / Benazepril: Common side effects — Cough · Warnings — Angioedema / anaphylactoid reactions; Hypotension and hyperkalemia; Contraindicated with neprilysin inhibitors · Interactions — Potassium supplements / K-sparing diuretics

An item counts as shared only when both cards use the same wording. If a card does not list an item, that is not a statement that the effect never occurs.